New leader at Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital
Jaccel Kouns, a registered nurse and an executive at Montefiore Medical Center for 20 years, has been appointed vice president and executive director of Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital.
Her appointment took effect June 1, Montefiore officials announced Wednesday.
Montefiore, a Bronx-based academic medical center, last year acquired the 176-bed Mount Vernon community hospital along with Sound Shore Medical Center and Schaffer Extended Care Center in New Rochelle in the Bankruptcy Court sale of Sound Shore Health System assets. The Westchester hospitals began operations under Montefiore last November.
Kouns joined Montefiore in 1994 and most recently served as director of emergency services and patient logistics, leading the clinical operations of five emergency departments throughout the Montefiore health system. She created a new patient logistics department, which helps optimize patient access across hospitals, a Montefiore spokesperson said.
Dr. Steven M. Safyer, president and CEO of Montefiore Health System, in the announcement called Kouns  “an experienced leader with extensive experience building relationships with physicians, improving processes and developing programs. She is the right person to strengthen and grow exceptional health care services for the residents of Mount Vernon and the surrounding communities.”
“It has been a true pleasure to be part of the Montefiore family for so many years,” Kouns said in the announcement. “I look forward to working with our staff at Montefiore Mount Vernon to help revitalize health care delivery in the community.”
Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital is home to the Beale Chronic Wound Treatment and Hyperbaric Center and the Montefiore School of Nursing.